DUI crackdown planned

AURORA | Thanksgiving travelers can expect to see extra police on the streets this week as police around the state crackdown on drunk drivers. 

The Colorado State Patrol said Wednesday that State Troopers and officers from 71 law enforcement agencies around the state will participate in DUI crackdown starting Tuesday at 6 p.m. and ending Monday at 3 a.m.

“The goal of increased DUI enforcement is not to spoil Thanksgiving dinner.  It’s to protect families from losing a loved one to a crime that is completely preventable,” Colonel James Wolfinbarger, chief of CSP, said in a statement.  “Thousands of additional vehicles will be traveling our roadways this week and we want everyone in them to make it to their destination safely.  Designate a sober driver and please remember to buckle up.”

This year marks the second time Colorado law enforcement agencies have operated increased DUI patrols over the Thanksgiving week, state patrol said.  

Last year, police around the state arrested 587 drivers for DUI during the seven-day period.

Since 2007, 23 people have been killed on Colorado roadways during the Thanksgiving week and one-third of those deaths were due to an impaired driver, the statement said. 

Click below for the CSP release. 

Thanksgiving Week DUI Crackdown Aims to Gobble Up Impaired Drivers

Heat is On enforcement begins Tuesday as holiday travelers hit the road

Denver, CO –  Motorists across Colorado have a lot to be thankful for this holiday week, as hundreds of law enforcement officers hit the road to protect them from the threat of impaired drivers.  The Colorado State Patrol and 71 agencies are participating in a special Thanksgiving week “Heat Is On” DUI enforcement beginning Tuesday, Nov. 23 at 6 p.m. through Monday, Nov. 29 at 3 a.m.

This year marks the second time Colorado law enforcement agencies have operated increased DUI patrols over the Thanksgiving week.  In 2009, 587 drivers were arrested for DUI during the seven-day period.

“The goal of increased DUI enforcement is not to spoil Thanksgiving dinner.  It’s to protect families from losing a loved one to a crime that is completely preventable,” said Colonel James Wolfinbarger, Chief of the Colorado State Patrol.  “Thousands of additional vehicles will be traveling our roadways this week and we want everyone in them to make it to their destination safely.  Designate a sober driver and please remember to buckle up.”

Since 2007, 23 people have been killed on Colorado roadways during the Thanksgiving week; one-third of those deaths were due to an impaired driver and over half of those killed were not wearing seat belts.  This year, AAA Colorado is expecting a rise in Thanksgiving travel, with 2.86 million people traveling by car in the Mountain States.

“This time of year we are thankful for what we have, including friends and family, but we can lose everything if we get behind the wheel after drinking,” said Pamela Hutton, governor’s representative for highway safety at the Colorado Department of Transportation.  “As you plan your Thanksgiving dinner, make a plan for a safe and sober way home for you and your loved ones.  Don’t let any of your guests drive if they’ve been drinking.”

Thanksgiving DUI enforcement follows the most recent crackdown at Halloween when 431 drivers were arrested for DUI.  Thanksgiving enforcement also comes just ahead of an increased DUI enforcement period running through New Year’s weekend.  CDOT will launch a holiday DUI education campaign next week encouraging drivers to stay safe and plan ahead throughout the holiday season.

            The following agencies are participating in increased DUI enforcement for Thanksgiving weekend:

Adams County SO

Alamosa County SO

Arapahoe County SO

Arvada PD

Aspen PD

Auraria Campus PD

Aurora PD

Basalt PD

Boulder County SO

Brighton PD

Broomfield PD

Canon City PD

Castle Rock PD

Colorado Springs PD

Commerce City PD

Cortez PD

Crested Butte MO

CSP/Troop 1-C Castle Rock

CSP/Troop 1-D Adams County

CSP/Troop 2-B Colorado Springs

CSP/Troop 2-C Lamar

CSP/Troop 2-D Pueblo

CSP/Troop 2-E Gaming (Cripple Creek)

CSP/Troop 3-A Greeley

CSP/Troop 3-B Sterling

CSP/Troop 4-A Fruita

CSP/Troop 4-B Craig

CSP/Troop 4-C Glenwood Springs

CSP/Troop 5-C Montrose

CSP/Troop 6-A Golden

CSP/Troop 6-B Frisco

CSP/Troop 6-C Broomfield

Denver PD

Dillon PD

Durango PD

Douglas County SO

Durango PD

Eagle County SO

El Paso County SO

Erie PD

Estes Park PD

Evans PD

Firestone PD

Fort Collins PD

Fort Lupton PD

Fort Morgan PD

Fountain PD

Fraser/Winter Park PD

Frederick PD

Fremont County SO

Gilcrest PD

Gilpin County SO

Golden PD

Grand Junction PD

Greenwood Village PD

Idaho Springs PD

Jefferson County SO

Kiowa County SO

Lafayette PD

Lakewood PD

Larimer County SO

Littleton PD

Logan County SO

Longmont PD

Loveland PD

Mancos MO

Mesa County SO

Montezuma County SO

Morgan County SO

Northglenn PD

Pagosa Springs PD

Parker PD

Pitkin County SO

Platteville PD

Pueblo County SO

Pueblo PD

Rifle PD

Saguache County SO

Silt PD

Snowmass Village PD

Steamboat Springs PD

Sterling PD

Summit County SO

Thornton PD

Walsenburg PD

Washington County SO

Weld County SO

Westminster PD

Wheat Ridge PD

Woodland Park PD